About the NCMHCE

The National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination (NCMHCE) is designed to assess the knowledge, skills, and abilities determined to be important for providing effective counseling services. The NCMHCE is a requirement for counselor licensure in many states. It is one of two examination options for the National Certified Counselor (NCC) certification and also fulfills the examination requirement for the Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CCMHC) specialty certification.

NCMHCE Content Outline Preview Summer 2027 Content Outline

Options for Examination Delivery

You can take the examination as part of either the National Certified Counselor (NCC) or Certified Clinical Mental Health Counselor (CCMHC) application, which will be covered in this handbook. The benefit of taking the examination via this method is that it allows you to get a head start on earning your professional credentials.

You can take the examination on its own, as part of the state licensure process. For more information on this process, review the state licensure candidate handbook.

Prepare for the NCMHCE

Study guides are available to help you prepare for the NCMHCE.

Download an Accommodation Request Form

Forms are available for download if special accomomodations are needed for the NCE.

Special Examination Request Forms:

For Certification & Credentilaing Candidates

For State Licensure Candidates